Trackway for toy railways



' Get. 20

\ 1931. J. c. KOERBER TRAGKWAY FOR TOY RAILWAYS Filed Jan. 30. 1929 Z0 INVENTOR 1402111 CKaerber (fimdmfi Sam M ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 20, 1 931 JOHN c. mammal; sonrlionnlven, aEnsEY rnncxwnyron roY nAILwA s proved means for supporting vorfor connecting together successive sections of a toy railway track. Toy rallway tracks now muse are customarily. formed of sections each of which com:-

section, but in many cases, a's, for example,

when the pinshave become worn through use,

@330 they do not hold the sections firmlytogether and the sections are apttobecomeseparated.

Qne object of my invention is to overcome this disadvantage by providing an improved means for connecting the track sections to- I??? gether." A further-object of myinvention is.

to provide a means of'this character which is adapted to be employed. with sections of either wide gauge or narrow gauge track. My improved track connecting. means: is

4330 adapted to be applied to a track laid in the customary'manner on a floor or other track? support, or such means may be incorporated in an elevated trackway' structure and serve not only to connect the sections together, but :35

position. A further objectiof my invention, therefore, is to provide an elevated trackway structure, employing an improved means for supporting and connecting together successive sections of the track. I

The elevated trackway structure :herei'n dis-- closed comprises a number of supporting units which may be assembled inwdifferent; ways so as to support one track oriaaplural-u ity of tracks, one above the other, and such: units are providedwith meansadapted-to engage and hold-theadjacent ties of succes sive track sections. A :further'objectof my Q invention is to provide an improved'elevated This inventionrelates to trackways for toy railways and more particularly to an imalso to support the sections inan elevated trackwa'yl structure otthis general character.;

Application filed January 30,1929. ser ial 110,136,028.

Other objects of my invention include the provision ofan improved track connecting and supporting means, whichis simple and economical in construction and is strong and durableinuse. x

Further objects and advanta es ofsmy invent'ion will appear from the iollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a top, plan view of a trackway embodying one. form of my. invention.

Figure 2 is a sidecelevation of the structure shown. in Figure l, certain of the parts being omitted. v

Figure 3 iss-anfenlarged perspective view of one of the track supporting frames employed in the structureshown in Figures 1 and 2 and showingthe manner in which the adjacent track ties of successive sections of track are supported by the frame.

r F iguret isasectional view-taken on the line 4+4 of Figure 2, showing one of the cross bars of a supporting frame and showing ad jacent ends voftwo wide gauge track sections supported bythe cross bar; Y 1 Y 1 Figure 5 is a view similar to .Figure ibut showing the same cross bar supporting adj a cent ends'of. narrow gauge track sections, and

Figure 6 is a"perspective viewof a modified means for connecting together successive sections of track, as .these sections are usually laid on a flat support.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the draw ings, referencecharacter-10 represents a circular trackway'structure which serves to sup port three circular tracks 11, one above the other... a 1 i The structure 10 comprises a circular series of rectangular frames 13 which are spacedfrom and inclined to one another, these frames as shown being positionedin planes whichlradiate'from a common'ce'ntrel' TLThG frames13 areeach formed of two side bars15 anda series of cross bars or members 16, the-latter preferably being formed of sheet metal turned down at their ends-and clippedor rivet'edtothe side bars 15 by eyelets 2O as shown in Figure 3." f The eyelets at oppo site ends of the'cross bjars arepreferably positionedrat difierent distances 'fromthe body of the bar, so as to support the bar at an inclination to the horizontal and in this manner raise the outside rail somewhat above the inside rail.

In assembling the frames 13 to form a self supporting trackway structure, the frames may be joined. to one another by connecting bars 22, the ends of each bar 22 being secured to the corresponding side bars 15 of successive frames of the series, by bolts or rivets 23 which extend throughthe ends of the connecting bars 22 and through openings in the. side bars 15. I may if desired connect the series of frames together by a formed of metal bars such as is shown at 24 in Figure 2 The. tracks. 11 which extend from frame: to frame and are. secured; to som spending cross-bars 16 of each successive frame also serve to hold the: frames together and aid in forming a strong and: substantially rigid trackway structure- The track 11- formed of: sections joined end to end, each section being of the standard; form and comprising wheel-bearing rails. 25' of sheet metal-bent toform a tubular head and supportingfianges and a third rail 26 of simi lar construction which forms a conductor for supplying current to electric. motor cars: on the track. One end of each rail of each section carries. a. projecting pin 2? adapted to be received in the tubular opening in the ad joining rail end of the v next section so as; to. secure the sections together and make the track continuous.

The three track rails: ofi'eaoh section arose-- cured together by transverse ties 27 of sheet metal which are out to: form lugs. 30 that are bent around the'bottoms' of the flanges: of the rails tosecure the. railsin position on the ties. The third rail 26 is iaasulatedz from thetieby a strip of insulating material 32 interposed betweenthe rail; and the. metal of thetie, this: strip extending across; the bottom: ofii the rail. The ties '27 are of inverted U shape cross section, being; formed with a bottom channel 35.... The lower edges 01? the tie are. bent outwardly to forum feet or ihmges 86;. In.- the track" construction showngqcertain of: the ties are supported. on the crossbar 1:63 of the. frames 15. and each of: the cross hars is constructed to supporttwo adjacent ties: of sue.- cessive sections of track. For this purpose the cross-baa" or plate. 16: is. harmed. with. an elongated central opening 42 which: d-lWildS the bar-intermediate its ends into side strips. or portions. 44., The adjacent ties of: success sive sections rest on the twostrips-'tk odi' a cross.-bar,. each. striprextendingthroughv the channel of. the tie and. bearingagainstthempper inner. face of the. channels as shown dot. dash lines'in; Figunefi;

Adjacent ends of; track sectimis; of wide or oi narrow gauge. may; he supported: by the; cross-barslfil The ties: oil a: standard;

narrow gaugetrack areof similar formtoithe ties of wide gauge track but are shorter and narrower and are normally positioned with their centers somewhat nearer the adjacent ends of the rails. To accommodate both the narrow gauge and wide gauge ties the side strips l4 of the cross-bars are formed with a relatively narrow center portion 46 and relatiVeLy wide end portions 47, the narrow portion being formed by cutting away the outer edges of the strips as indicated at 48. The strips-4% are approximately the length of the wide gauge ties and the width of the wide portions 47 of the strips is approximately the width of the channel of the wide gauge tie, so that when the wide gauge tie is fitted to the strip it embraces substantially the. whole strip and is held against sidewise: movement by the bar at the ends of the openings 42.. The narrow portions 46 are of approximately the length of the narrow gauge ties and substantially the width of the channel of the narrow gauge: tie, sothat when. the narrow gauge tie is: fitted to the strip it embraces substantially the whole of the narrow portion 426.. I

Figure 4 shows wide gaugetrack applied to the cross-bar and Figure. 5 shows narrow gauge track so applied: and I have also shown, in dot and dash lines, in Figurefi both wide and narrow gauge ties: attached to different cross-bars of the: frame 15. It will be noted because of the: narrowing of the. strip 44; from the outside edge that thecentresof the narrow gauge ties: are nearer together than the centres of the wide. gauge: ties. These distances correspond to the standard spacing of the centres of wide and narrow gauge. tracks. a i

As a-: means. for securing the wide gauge ties. tosthecross bars. 1? provide openings: 5O the supporting strips which are: adapted to; receive bolts or other securing devices- 51 which extend through the metal of the'w i de gauge. tie and 15' also provide thesestrips witlropenings miwhichareadaptedtoreceive bolts. for clamping the ends of the narrow gauge ties: to the supporting strip; It will of course be understood that l may employ other devices: for securing the tie to the strip such for example as aspring clip or a lock-- lever or"- spring l atch.

It will be noted that the insulating strip 32* which extends across the bottom of the third rail and: insulates the third rail from the tie also insulates the-third rail from the cross bar 1161 a a It. be seen that the cross bars being" tOi the sidebars: 115 of the frame at each enclby a single. rivet may be turned on the rivets as a pivotal axis/a These cross hairs: aree'shown in; a: horizontal position, comrecting' together sections: of: a horizonca-L track. It is: however apparent" that they may be tilted for connecting together the sections: ofi an: inclined. track.

support a -single or a-plurality ofspiral tracks y instead-of the three horizontal tracks shown. Frames similar to the frame 13 and provided with tiltable track supporting cross bars may also be employed to form an inclined approach to abridge, 'In Figures 1 to 5 I have shown thecross bars 16 asform'ing part-of an elevated track structure. Devices of a similar construction, however, may be used generally for connecting together adjacent sections of track, whether-the track is elevated orlaid in the usual manner on a floor or table. .Thus in Figure 6' I show a track connector adaptedto be applied to a track as usually laid. The connector shown in Figure 6is of similar construction to the cross bar 16 except that it is turned down at the ends to form supporting flanges or feet 60. I have shown indotted lines in Figurefithe connector applied to a narrow gauge track, It willbe seen that the ties of the track rest in the usual manner on the" floor or flatsupport and thefeet'60 of the track connector serve to raise the strips 44 of the connector so thatthey lie in thechannels of the track ties.

When appliedto the track as shown in Fig: ure 6 the track connector serves to prevent separation of the track sections in case the pins 27 do not fit tightly in the openings in the adjacent rail ends. To prevent separation of the track sections it is not ordinarily necessary that the track connector be secured to the ties, although if it is desired to'form the successive track sections into a rigid continuous track, some suitable means for securing the connector to the track ties may be employed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. An elevated trackway structure for toy trains comprisingside supporting members, cross-bars connecting said members, sheet metal ties having longitudinal bottom channels secured to saidcross-bars with said crossbars extending through said channels, and track rails secured to the tops of said ties, the tops of said ties being cut to form lugs which are bent around the rails to secure them in position.

2. An elevated trackway structure for toy trains comprising side supporting members, track suporting cross-bars connecting said members, rail supporting members formed of sheet metal bent downwardly at the sides of said cross-bars, a piece of flexible insulating material between one of said rails and a sheet metal member, and between said one rail and said cross-bar.

3. In a trackway for toy trains comprising track supporting'Lcross-bars having openings therethrough and having, "angular ends formed withopenings; securing means ex tending through the openings in said'ends and through certain ofthe openings in said sidebars; 1 a track having ties extending along and supported on said cross-bars and means extending through certain of the openings in said cross-bars for securing said ties to'said bars; other of the openings in said cross-bars being adapted to receive fasten ing means for securing a track of different gauge to said cross-bars i l i 1. In' a toy track structure, means for securing'with respect to one another adjacent ties of successive track sections, said means comprising ajportion adaptedfor' holding engagement'with track sections of one gauge and aportion adapted for holding engagement withtrack sections of diiferent gauge. 5. Ina toy trackstructure, means for se curing with respect to oneanother adjacent ties ofsuccessive track sections, said means comprising a portion adapted for holding engagement with ties of track sections of one gauge anda portion adapted for holding eng'agement with ties oftrack sections of different gauge. 1 i r 6; A removable device for holding to gether sucessive sections of a toy railway track, comprising spaced means adapted for holding engagement with track sections of different gauge.

-- 7. Aremovable device for holding agether successive toy railway track sections comprising a metal member having tieen gaging portions adapted for holding the ad- ]acent ties of3said sections, said portions being adaptedifOrholding engagement with ties of sections of different gauge track. Q

q 8. Means for holding in spaced relation adj acent channeled ties of successive track sec tions consisting of spaced supporting strips adapted toextend through the tie channels and means for securing said strips to said ties. I 7 i 9, Means for holdingadjacent channeled ties of successive sections of wide or of narrow gauge track, said meansconsisting of spaced supporting strips adapted to extend through the tieqchannels andmeans for securing saidstrips to said ties,'said strips being each formed with a wide portion for holding engagement in the channels of ties of wide gauge tracks and with a narrow portion for holding engagement in the channels of ties pfnarrow. gauge track. l I 110. A supporting means for toy railway tracks, comprising a strip of metal having wide and narrowj portions for holding engagement respe tivelyin'th channels of wide and narrow gauge trackties.

111A supporting means for toy railway tracks, comprising a strip of metalph'aving wideand IIZLITOW portions for holding engagement respectively in the channels of wide and narrow gauge track ties and releasable means .for securing said portions insaid channels. r v

12. Means for holding adjacent channeled ties of two connected sections of toy railway track, comprising a metal plate having a central slot which divides the plate between its ends into two side strips, said strips be ing formed with wide and narrow portions adapted for holding engagement respectively with the channels of the ties of wide and narrow gauge track. V

13. Means for holding adjacent channeled tiesof two connected sections of toy railway track, comprising a metal plate having a central slot which divides the plate between its ends into two' side strips, said strips being formed with wide and narrow portions adapted for holding engagement respectively with the channels of the ties of wide and narrow gauge track, and releasable means for securing said portions in said channels.

14. A track supporting frame adapted for assembly in a toy trackway structure comprising side bars and tie supporting crossbars pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the side bars, whereby said cross-bars may be adjusted to accommodate tracks of different grades. 7 a

15. Means for holding adjacent channeled ties of successive track sections, consisting of a bar shaped to form holding strips adapted to extend through the tie channels and bar supporting means'at the ends of said bar. 4 a

16. Means for holding adjacent channeled ties of successive track sections,- consisting of a bar shaped to form spaced holdingstrips adapted to extend through the tie channels, the ends of said bar being bent downwardly to form supporting feet. 7

17. A removable device for holding together successive sections of toy railway track, comprising spaced means adapted for bold ing engagement with track sections of different gauge, and means for supporting said first named means.

18. A holding means for toy railway tracks comprising strip metal having wide and narrow portions for holding engagement respectively in the channels of wide and narrow gauge track ties, said strip being bent downwardly at its ends to form supportingfeet.

19. A holding means for adjacent channeled ties of successive track sections, comprising a tie engaging portion consisting of a member adapted to extend into and fit a tie channel. v

20-. Means for securing with respect to one another adjacent channeled ties of successive toy railway track sections,- comprising a tie engagingstri-padapted to extend through a tie channel. a

' 21. Means for securing with respectto one another adjacent channeled ties of successive toy railway track sections, comprising a tie engagingstrip, adapted to extend through a tie channel and a bolt extending through said strip andtie for securing the strip and tie together, j g

22, Means for securing with respect to one another adjacent channeled ties of successive track sections consisting of spaced members adapted to fit in the tie channels.

23 Means for securing with respect to one another adjacent channeled ties of successive track sections consisting of spaced members adapted to fit in the channels of ties of tracks of different gauge. j

24. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure comprising a circular series of fiat side bars flat sheet metal track supporting cross-bars having their ends bent for a tachmentto said side bars, means extending through said side bars and ends for connecting the side bars and cross bars to one another and a'curved trackway supported on said cross bars, said trackway comprising sections which connect the cross bars and assist in forming, with the cross bars and side bars, a rigid supporting structure.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18 day of January A. 111929. Y j i a i Y JOHN C. KOERBER. 

